Message numbering device



F. MARTINDELL MESSAGE NUMBERING DEVICE March 13, F951 Filed Dec. 20,1949 'INVENTOR FRANK MARTINDELL FIG. 2

,ATTORNEY inittin'g'stat'ion;

Patented Mar. 13, 1951 Frank-Martindell, Western Springs, 111,, assignprto type Corpora i n, Chica o, I11 a: OIPQ- ration of- DelawareApplioat'ion December 20, 1949,- Serial'No. 134,007

The present-invention deals withprinting telegraph apparatus andmorepar-ticularly with apparatu's for introducing" message numbering,identifying signals, or other intelligence into or between consecutivemessages.-

It is well known in the printing telegraph art to use numericalidentification asa method of identifying messages. 'Howevrthe practiceof having an operator type out the' message numberin'gsignals' as 'partof'the original message is inconvenient and'leads-to numerous errorssuohas the same identifying' number being utilized on Consecutive messagesdue" to an operators neglecting to'cheokofi a number on a check listafter it has once been used; etc;

Toavoid 'theineonvenien'ces attending the-manual insertion of messagenumbering signals into or between messages", attempts havebe'en made toutilize auxiliary transmitters for thispurpose. In general suchauxiliarynumbering transmitters consist of a regularmessagetransmitter modifiedso asto respond to ai'c'ert'ain-predetermined signai; and'upen sueh'response a previously prepared doirit'fol form causes a 'nu'merioalidentification signal to be transmitted. This method has provedsatisfactory; however; it involves 'the ex-' pense of an'additionaltransmitterat each trans- The principal obj ect'of the present inventionis to'provide aflmech'anism applicable to a transmit't'enof the "typeshown 'in'the patentto' 1 Goetz','No'. 129634 5, in order to render'suchtransmitter capable of" transmitting" automatically messageidentifyingor"numbering" signals, in addition to its'bein'ga'bletotransmitnormal messages pieviouslyfstoredfin tape form.

,In'connect'on'wi'th the principalobjectof the invention itisa' morespecifieobject to provide a device for controlling the tapesensingdeversof a' transmitter in' order to enable transmission therebybf essageidentification Signals.

Briefly the present invention cons ts of arotatable unit, having .aplurality of planetary numbering or messages identifying cams;positioned above the tapesierisiiig pins Of a Standardtelegraphtransmitter; ofthe type diselofsed v aforementioned patentiofM. T. Goetz. In the normal stop positionflof the devioe in"accordancewith the weu kn'own' five initBaudot code; a flettErS contiblvi fidicia'infith'e rotatableunit ispos itio'ned' above the tape sensing ins, Thisletters signer co sisting of .all five" marking units, thereforepresentsne obstacle'to' the tape sensing'pms Sensing themessla ge tape. A't thebeginning of eachlmessage' atithe pointin the in the ms. (oi. it's-17$transmission whereit is contemplated the messa nt fi at n s a s wil hety ni mi te'd th sta r m sa eutap e forated with a series of letters,,or all marking signals. The letters si n l pres nt no obstaole 12 filoF v sensing pins and thereforerwhile the tape is pped through a plural yo .chara te DQSZUQ .the rotatable identifying is also" stepped throughitsseries of positions while the sensing pins passthrough thetape andsense theidentification signals impressed into the control cams.

.Upon..the sensing pins sensing the entire group .of planetarycontrolpcams, rotation of tlri e rotatable unit containing thecamsceaseswith the'unit in'its normal stopposition. V 'Ihereafter the message/tapecontrols the transmitter sensing levers.

, Itis thereforeiapparentthat. another object of the present inventionisrto providea cheap and eflicient-devioe which may beafiixedtoastandard telegraph transmitter .to thereby render such.transmitter1capable of automatically transmittin message identifying.signalsas well as normal message signals.

.Oth'erobjectsandadvantages of the invention will :beapparent fromthefollowing detailed description-wheniread'in conjunction'with' theappended drawing -wherein: l

Figeliisanexploded-isometric View of the principal-featuresofrthelinvention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are comparative views illustrating how the rotatable unitis stepped from its, normal stop positioneach time a new message tape isbe des'cribed which are deemed necessary to a full understandingofthepresentinvention; vThis patent" to-M. TnGoet'z i's'herebyincorporated by reference intothepresentedisclosure' and for a morethorough" understanding of the message transmitter reference should behad to' said patent.

Referring now to'the' drawings a rotatable unit designated generally byreference numeral H is 'iriounted upon a shaft 12 rotatably mountedwithin a frame-or carriage I3. The'ifra'me i3 is pivotal-1y mounted onthe top'plate (notlshown) of the transmitter-shown in the aforementionedGoetzpatent by means of-a pair of'ea'rs 2M; A

' springclamp I'Bis provided for retainingithe unit 3 the rotatableshaft l2 and between which are mounted a plurality of planetary shaftsl8. Each of the shafts l8 has a sleeve l5 rotatable therearound and eachof the sleeves H] has a pair of control cams 2| secured thereto. Thecontrol cams 2| are each coded with perforations or apertures 22 whichrepresent identification or numeral signals. A portion of the rotatableunit I instead of being provided with planetary control cams 2| consistsof a cylindrical segment 23 which is also coded with signals. Thecylindrical segment 23 provides a convenient means for enablingtransmission of a fixed identification signal such as the call letter ofthe transmittin station the figures signal to condition the receivingprinter, and also the letters signal which presents itself while therotatable unit H is in its normal stop position.

The rotatable unit will generally, though not necessarily be designed tocause the transmission of numeral signals and accordingly each planetarycam 2| is coded with the digits to 9, inclusive. It is thereforedesirable that the numeral signal transmitted be changed consecutivelyfor consecutive messages. Accordingly each sleeve i9 except the one onwhich the thousands cams 2| are mounted, is provided with a ten toothgear and a single tooth gear. A ten tooth gear 24 and a single toothgear 25 are mounted on the units cam sleeve 2|; a ten tooth gear 27 anda single tooth gear 28 are mounted on the tens cam sleeve 2|; a tentooth gear 29 and a single tooth 3| are mounted on the hundreds camsleeve 2|; and a ten tooth gear 32 alone is mounted on the thousands camsleeve 2|. During each revolution of the rotatable unit II, a set screw33 engages a tooth on the ten tooth gear 24 on the units cam sleeve 2|.As the rotatable unit I moves on, the

units cam sleeve 2| advances a step. .Every ten 7 steps of the units camsleeve, the single tooth gear 25 engages the gear 27 on the tens camsleeve. In this manner the cam sleeves are stepped sequentially. Theengagement between the set screw 33 and the gear 24 may take place inany position of the rotatable unit I I. However it may more convenientlytake place during a portion of a revolution of the unit i when none ofthe control cams.2| are controlling transmission.

The shaft l2, to which the rotatable unit II is secured, also carries agear 34. .The gear 34 meshes with a gear 36 secured to a shaft 31. Onthe other end of the shaft is mounted a ratchet 33 which has a missingtooth indicated by the reference numeral 39. A pawl 4| is slidablevertically on a shaft 42 and is continuously urged downwardly andcounterclockwise by means of a spring 43 against the ratchet 38. Eachtime, the pawl 4| is raised it tends to engage a tooth on the ratchet 38and thereby advances the ratchet a step to in turn rotate the rotatableunit I a step. A detent 45 mounted pivotally on a shaft 44 iscontinuously urged in a clockwise direction by a spring 45 intoengagement with the disc I1. The disc I! has a plurality of notches 41within which the detent 45 may seat itself to retain the rotatable unitin its stepped position.

A power sleeve 48 has a cam 49 with which a follower lever cooperates.The follower lever 5| is the same as the lever 5| shown in Fig. 5 of theaforementioned patent to M. T. Goetz. The lever 5| is pivotally mountedon a shaft 52 and has a depending arm 53 secured thereto. A pair ofsprings 54 and 56 secured respectively tothe lever 5| and depending arm53 constantly tend to rotate the follower 5| counterclockwise therebykeeping it in continuous engagement with the cam 45. When the lever 5|drops into the low part of the cam 49 a tape feed wheel 57 is advancedby means shown in the Goetz patent hereinbefore referred to. A lever 58mounted pivotally on a shaft 59 is designed to actuate the pawl 4|through an adjustable eccentric I. The spring 43 constantly urges thepawl 4|, and in turn the lever 58 downwardly, thereby retaining a stud62 protruding from the lever 58 in contact engagement with the followerlever 5|. When the follower lever 5| is allowed to pivotcounterclockwise, due to the presentment of the low part of the cam 49,the tape feed wheel 5? is advanced a step which causes the advancementof a tape 63, and the pawl 4| is raised to cause the advancement by onestep of the rotatable unit H.

A group of sensing levers 33 mounted pivotally on the shaft 52, eachhave a tape sensing pin which is designed to sense perforations in thetape 63 and the apertures 22 in the identificationcontrol cams 22. Eachof the sensing levers 63 is urged counterclockwise about the shaft 52 byindividual springs 66. A bail fi'l, also mounted pivotally on the shaft52 has a depending arm 33 carrying a follower roller 59 Which rides acam 1| rotatable with the cam sleeve 48.

The following is a description of the operation of the invention. Itwill be first assumed that the transmitter has completed transmission ofa message in a tape 63. Under this condition the rotatable unit I is in,and remains in, its normal stop position because of the fact that theportion of the ratchet 38. having the missing tooth 39' is opposite thepawl 4|. At this time the pawl 4| does not advance the ratchet 38because the pawl 4| does not drop far enough to engage another tooth,but merely reciprocates in the portion 39 of the ratchet during theoscillation of the follower 5|. It will be recalled that also at thistime a letters combination in the cylindrical segment 23 presents itselfopposite the sensing pins 54.

When the operator desires to insert a new message tape into transmittingposition such tape is placed over the sensing pins 64. In order toinsert the new tape in this position it is necessary that the rotatableunit ll be lifted out of the way. The spring clamp |B is moved slightlyto the right and this allows the unit II to be pivoted counterclockwisethereby making it possible to insert a new message tape. When the unitoccupies the position shown in Fig. 2 the lever 58 will not allow thepawl 4| to drop sufficiently to pickup a new tooth on the pawl 38.However, when the unit II is moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 thepawl 4| ismoved from engagement with the lever 58 so that the spring 43is able to draw the pawl 4| into a position to engage the nexttoothbeyond the toothless portion 39 of the'ratchet 38. Upon thesubsequent latching of the unit II in the position shown in Fig. 2 withthe new message tape in transmitting position, the pawl 4| is inengagement with a tooth on the ratchet 38. Upon the subsequentreciprocation of the lever 5|, both the tape 63 and the rotary unit Hare advanced. Since the first few spaces on the new message tape containletters combinations, the sensing pins sense consecutive control cams 2|and the cylindrical segment 23. Upon the completion of a revolution ofthe rotary unit II, the toothless portion 39 of the ratchet 38 presentsitself to the pawl 4| and thereafter the message itself is sensed inwithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

\ 1. In a telegraph transmitter, "a plurality -of sensing pins'forsensing a message tapega'rotatable unit positioned :above said sensingpinsand said fness'age tape, a plurality of planetary cams in saidrotatable unit, each of said planetary cams being coded withmessageidentifying intelligence designed to besensediby said sensing pins,means for advancing said'm'essage tape in a stepped manner to presentsuccessive intelli- I gence groups therein to said sensing pins, meansfor rotating said rotatable unit in a stepped manner to presentintelligence 'of successive planetary cams to said sensing-means, saidmessage tape being coded in a manner to present no obstacle to saidsensing pins in sensing said planetary cams, and means for stopping thestepping of said rotatable unit upon completion of a revolution thereof,said rotatable unit being coded in a manner to present no obstacle tosaid sensing pins in sensing said message tape after the stopping of thestepping thereof.

2. In a telegraph transmitter, a plurality of sensing pins for sensing amessage tape, a rotatable unit positioned above said sensing pins andsaid message tape, a plurality of planetary cams in said rotatable unit,each of said planetary cams being coded with message identifyingintelligence designed to be sensed by said sensing pins, means foradvancing said message tape in a stepped manner to present successiveintelligence groups therein to said sensing pins, means for rotatingsaid rotatable unit in a stepped manner to present intelligence ofsuccessive planetary cams to said sensing means, said message tape beingcoded in a manner to present no obstacle to said sensing pins in sensingsaid planetary cams, means for stopping the stepping of said rotatableunit upon completion of a revolution thereof, said rotatable unit beingcoded in a manner to present no obstacle to said sensing pins in sensingsaid message tape after the stopping of the stepping thereof, and meansfor permutably changing the relative settings of said planetary camsbetween each revolution of said rotatable unit to thereby successivelychange the message identifying intelligence sensed by said sensing pi s-3. In combination with a telegraph transmitter having a plural ty nsinpins for rmally sensing a message tape, a rotatable um't removablymounted on said transmitter, a plurality of planetary cams in saidrotatable unit each coded with message identifying intelligence designedto be sensed by said sensing pins, means for advancing said message tapein a stepped manner to present successive intelligence groups therein tosaid sensing pins, and pawl and ratchet means for rotating saidrotatable unit in a stepped manner to present intelligence fromsuccessive planetary cams to said sensing pins, said pawl and ratchetmeans being designed to permit but a single revolution of said rotatableunit upon insertion of said message tape in the transmitter, saidrotatable unit itself being coded in ;-a--=mannerto present no obstacle.to said sensing pinsinsensingsaidmessage.tape.aftersaidsingle.

revolution of said rotatable unit,v and said :message tape-being codedin a manner to present no obstacle -to said sensing spins. insensingsaid planetary cams during the rotation ofzsaid .rotatable unit. I

4.- In combination with-a telegraph transmitter having a plurality ofsensing pins for normally sensing a messagetape, a rotatable unitremovablymounted on said transmitter, a plurality of planetarycams insaid rotatable unit each coded with message identifying intelligencedesigned to be sensed by said sensing pins, means for-advancingsaid'message tape ina stepped 'manner "to present successiveintelligence groups "therein to-said sensingpins, and pawl and ratchet-m'eans for rotating said rotatable .unit in a stepped manner to presentintelligence from successive plantarycams to said sensing pins, saidratchetmeans having a missing tooth for permitting said pawl andratchet'means to step said rotatable unit nomore than alsinglerevolution upon insertion :of said message tape in the transmitter, saidrotatable unit itself being coded in a manner to present no obstacle tosaid sensing pins in sensing said message tape after a single revolutionof said rotatable unit and said message tape being coded in a manner topresent no obstacle to said sensing pins in sensing said planetary camsduring the rotation of said rotatable unit.

5. In a telegraph transmitter, a plurality of sensing pins for sensing amessage tape, a rotatable message identification unit, a carriage forhousing said message identification unit mounted pivotally on saidtransmitter and movable to either a message tape inserting position or amessage transmitting position, said message identification unit beingrotatable in said carriage and having a plurality of planetary camscoded with message identifying intelligence adapted to be sensed by saidsensing pins when said carriage occupies said message transmittingposition, means for rotating said message identification unit a singlerevolution and preventing further rotation thereof when said carriage0ccupies said message transmitting position whereby said sensing pinssense the message identifying intelligence coded in said planetary camsand thereafter sense the message tape, and other means effective uponmovement of said carriage to said message tape inserting position andback to said message transmitting position for rendering said firstmentioned means eifective to rotate said message identification unitanother revolution.

6, In a telegraph transmitter, a plurality of sensing pins for sensing amessage tape, a 1 0-: tatable message identification unit, a carriagefor housing said message identification unit mounted nivotally on saidtransmitter and movable to either a message tape inserting position or amessage transmitting position, said message identification unit beingrotatable in said carriage and having a plurality of planetary camscoded with message identifying intelligence adapted to be sensed by saidsensing pins when said carriage occupies said message transmittingposition, a pawl and ratchet for rotating said message identificationunit when said carriage occupies said message transmitting position,said ratchet having a missing tooth for insuring but a single revolutionof said identification unit, said sensing pins being effective to sensethe message identifying intelligence coded in said planetary cams duringrotation of said identification unit and thereafter to sense the messagetape, and means effective upon movement of said carriage to said messagetape inserting position and back to said message transmitting positionfor rendering said pawl and ratchet efiective to rotate said messageidentification unit another revolution. 7

7. In a telegraph transmitter, a plurality of sensing pins for sensing amessage tape, a 1'0- tatable message identification unit, a carriage forhousing said message identification unit mounted pivotally on saidtransmitter and movable to either a message tape inserting position or amessage transmitting position, said message identification unit beingrotatable in said carriage and having a plurality of planetary camscoded with message identifying intelligence adapted to be sensed by saidsensing pins when said carriage occupies said message transmittingposition, a pawl and ratchet for rotating said message identificationunit when said carriage occupies said message transmitting position, a

power driven lever for actuating said pawl, said lever being furtherefiective in conjunction with a portion of said ratchet having a missingtooth for insuring but a single revolution of said messageidentification unit, said sensing pins being effective to sense themessage identifying intel- REFERENCES CITED The following references areof record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,193,809 Dirkes et a1 Mar. 19,1940 2,451,045 Potts Oct. 12, 1948

